Remembering God's Wondrous Works: Praise, Study, Obedience

Hallelujah opens the psalm and sets the tone: the psalmist calls the redeemed to give thanks to the Lord with the whole heart, and to do it in the company of the upright. Praise does not rise from hype but from remembrance. “Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.” The summons is to study, to seek out, to inquire, to return again and again until delight grows. That study is not narrow. The psalm gathers the Lord’s works under three banners the church has long recognized: creation, providence, and redemption. His work shines with splendor and majesty, and his righteousness does not wear out. He causes his wondrous works to be remembered, which shows that remembrance itself is one of his works of grace.

Providence stands out as the psalmist names concrete mercies. The Lord provides food for those who fear him. He remembers his covenant forever. He has shown his people the power of his works by granting them the inheritance of the nations. Redemption crowns the catalog: he sent redemption to his people and commanded his covenant forever. These acts unveil the Actor. His works are faithful and just, and so his precepts are trustworthy, established forever and ever. Word and deed cohere in him. That coherence drives the refrain: holy and awesome is his name.

The fear of the Lord sits at the gateway of wisdom. Reverent awe before the covenant God is the beginning of skill in godly living. Those who practice it gain understanding. So the psalm moves the worshiper from doxology to study and back to doxology. Theology becomes the queen of the sciences again, not as cold theory but as the delight of those who ponder the Lord’s handiwork in creation, his ordering of history, and his saving acts now made full in Christ’s cross and resurrection. Remembering leads to honoring, and honoring includes obedience. His precepts are not suggestions. They are to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.

On a weekend set aside to honor those who gave their lives, the psalm presses a deeper remembrance: the Lord’s covenant faithfulness and the redemption he has sent. Creation and history provide countless exhibits, yet Scripture remains the surest guide to his works. The psalm finally circles where it began: his praise endures forever. Such praise belongs with a whole heart, in a gathered people, who study, fear, obey, and speak of his renown.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Wholehearted praise honors remembered works Praise in this psalm is not vague feeling but informed thanksgiving rooted in what the Lord has actually done. The call is corporate and undivided, because a divided heart is too small for his glory. Remembered works kindle real worship, and remembered worship deepens remembrance. The church’s gathered praise becomes a living memorial to his covenant faithfulness. [52:58]
• 2. Study the Lord’s works with delight Delight grows through study, not instead of it. Creation, providence, and redemption invite careful attention until awe becomes understanding and understanding becomes song. Theology returns to its rightful place when God’s people pursue it with joy, treating his works as treasures to ponder, not trivia to pass over. Such study fuels both witness and worship. [37:27]
• 3. Creation, providence, redemption reveal character The works of God are windows into who God is. Provision, covenant, inheritance, and redemption showcase righteousness that endures, mercy that spares, and holiness that humbles. Word and work meet in him, so trust in his precepts makes sense because his acts prove his name. Seeing his patterns in history steadies faith in present troubles. [42:24]
• 4. Trustworthy precepts require faithful obedience Because his instructions are established forever, obedience is not an optional add-on but the fitting response to a faithful God. Right belief should ripen into right practice, performed with faithfulness and uprightness. The church’s life becomes a lived amen to what God has said and done. Obedience honors the One whose word and work agree. [65:28]
• 5. Fear of the Lord births wisdom Reverence before the Holy One is the starting line of wise living, not the finish line. Practiced fear trains perception so that knowledge is applied well. As awe matures into disciplined habits, understanding grows, and praise becomes sturdier. Wisdom is learned skill under the gaze of a covenant-keeping God. [66:13]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [27:06] - Memorial Day and remembrance
• [30:01] - Turning to Psalm 111
• [34:31] - Hallelujah and corporate praise
• [37:27] - Studied by all who delight
• [38:55] - Theology as queen of sciences
• [42:24] - Creation, providence, redemption
• [45:59] - Redemption from Exodus to Christ
• [49:57] - Trustworthy precepts that endure
• [51:07] - Gracious, merciful, faithful name
• [52:58] - Wholehearted praise and response
• [54:48] - Study, testify, and encourage
• [66:13] - Fear of the Lord and wisdom
• [69:15] - Call to believe and grow
• [76:24] - Benediction and Zechariah preview

1. What three categories of God’s works does the psalm highlight (creation, providence, redemption), and how are they described in verses 2-9?
2. How does the psalm connect God’s works (e.g., providing food, sending redemption) to His character (e.g., gracious, faithful)?
3. What repeated phrases or themes tie the beginning and end of the psalm together (e.g., “whole heart,” “fear of the Lord,” “praise endures forever”)?
4. According to verse 8, what is the relationship between God’s precepts and our actions?

1. Why does the psalm emphasize praising God “in the company of the upright” (v. 1) rather than privately? How does corporate worship deepen remembrance and honor?
2. The psalm says God’s works are “studied by all who delight in them” (v. 2). What might hinder someone from delighting in studying God’s works, and how can that change?
3. Verse 10 links the “fear of the Lord” to wisdom. How does reverent awe of God’s covenant faithfulness (v. 5, 9) shape our daily decisions and priorities?
4. The sermon noted that “theology becomes the queen of the sciences… as the delight of those who ponder the Lord’s handiwork” [37:27]. How does viewing theology as delight rather than duty transform our approach to studying Scripture?

1. What’s one practical step you can take this week to intentionally study God’s works in creation, providence, or redemption (e.g., journaling, discussing with a friend, observing nature)? [37:27]
2. The psalm calls for obedience to God’s precepts “with faithfulness and uprightness” (v. 8). Is there a specific command or teaching in Scripture you’ve struggled to obey? How can you align your actions with God’s character this week?
3. Reflect on a time when you experienced God’s providence (e.g., provision, protection, guidance). How could sharing that story in your small group or family deepen corporate worship? [42:24]
4. The “fear of the Lord” is described as the “beginning of wisdom” (v. 10). What habit or discipline could you cultivate to grow in reverent awe of God (e.g., prayer, Scripture meditation, serving others)? [01:06:13]
5. The sermon mentioned creating “living memorials” of God’s faithfulness through shared testimonies [52:58]. How can you intentionally remember and celebrate God’s works in your life or community this month?
6. In what area of your life (e.g., work, relationships, finances) do you need to trust more deeply that God’s precepts are “trustworthy” (v. 7)? What would it look like to act on that trust today?